Best yet from ace Andrew

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS . . . Andrew Lofthouse has some of Europe’s top fighters in his sights.

Kickboxing: 

FITTON Hill kickboxer Andrew Lofthouse has delivered the biggest victory of his highly-promising career.

In front of a 3,500 crowd at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena, Lofthouse defended his Muay-Thai UK number five, lightweight ranking.

The former Pride in Oldham winner beat Midlander Matt McKeown on a unanimous decision, having floored the home fighter in the second round with a flying scissor kick.

Said Lofthouse (23): “I thought he recovered well and we fought a close fight from that point. I hadn’t managed a full training camp after a cracked rib I suffered in January.”.

Lofthouse described the atmosphere as “the best I’d ever fought in” while his promoter Phil Shedden said his fighter’s style generates fan-fervour.

“Andrew is a big draw – he has that flamboyant style people want to pay to see,” said Shedden. “He is also being harsh on himself by saying he made hard work of the fight. He’s cemented his ranking as one of the top five lightweights in the UK.”

Lofthouse now faces a gruelling remainder of 2015, fighting three times in six months - the first time on July 11 in Wythenshawe in an all-Greater Manchester tie with Chris Whittle.